Hello Good PeopleOk – I just want to clarify for my own sanity here.
Creating LOD’s (Level of Detail). Seems to in tale two methods, both the same however in the end.
Method 1: In GMAX - Create your object to completion, with all the bells and whistles. Then with your object open in GMAX create another “Dummy” object and rename it on the drop down menu to match the name of your saved object.
Example: Current GMAX object – Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100.
Rename “Dummy” object to Lighthouse_Generic.
With your “Dummy” or Lighthouse_Generic object selected click on “Select & Link “ button on the tool bar and while holding down the left mouse button drag your mouse over your Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100 object. This will allow you to set up a hierarchy so that the “Dummy” object is the parent of the objects.
Repeat this step until all of your LOD objects are linked to the parent object.
Notes: Rename each LOD object LOD_100, LOD_75, LOD_50, LOD_10. And so forth.
Questions with Method 1:
Do you need to create a series of “Groups” and then rename them all to match your LOD names? Example: Group all objects within your LOD group and rename that Group Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100 and so forth.
Can you link to a LOD Group from the parent object and then ungroup the LOD group or do you need to keep the LOD group grouped?
Notes: Seems to me that Method 1 may have some potential link gaps and that one could potentially only link to a single object within a LOD group causing the LOD to actually not function as intended.
Method 2: In GMAX – With a “New” empty project open, create an object from the “Helper” tool bar. Click on the “Helpers” button then select or click on the “Dummy” button. In any of the four viewports, click and drag to create a dummy object. The size of the dummy does not matter.
Save your file as “Lighthouse_Generic.gmax and close.
Open your completed project Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100 object with all the bells and whistles.
Save your file as Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100.gmax (If it’s not already created).
Now rename your “Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100 to “Lighthoues_Generic_LOD_75.gmax and save. Continue this method until all of your desired LOD levels are met and created.
Open each “LOD” project and remove any unnecessary poly’s and reduce your objects poly count, save and close.
Export each LOD project and click or select “Save Files” within MAKEMDL.exe. This creates your *.ASM and your *_0ASM files.
Last step: Open your “Dummy” Parent GMAX file, click export. When MAKEMDL.exe pops up select “Keep Files” from the “Options” tab, then select the “LOD” tab and add each LOD file as desired. Example: Lighthouse_Generic_LOD_100, and so forth.
Questions with Method 2:
Do you need to use X.Files to add to MakeMDL.exe?
Can you use a completed BGL? Or?
If you have to use X.Files file types then how do you create them or export them? What program creates this X.files that MakeMDL calls for when adding LOD's.
Just a little clarification would be great. I would actually prefer to use method 2 if it’s an option.
What are your recommendations?
Thanks
Steve2112